Please, will you come to Uncle John?
Gather around poor Uncle John.
Please, will you come to Uncle John (the no-good good-for-nothing),
Oh, when will you come to Uncle John?
Oh, when will you come to, Uncle John?

Any of them that refer to the singing angels. I don't find singing angels anywhere in the Christmas story.

True, but at least this is an understandable error, and perhaps not even a complete error-as the angels, the multitude of the heavenly host praised God-often, praising God was synonymous with singing-in fact, this is one of my big problems with the idea of 'Worship" music, as worship is never identified with music, but praise almost always is.

Whether they actually praised in song, or in word is up for interpretation, since it says "Saying". You can certainly SAY something in song.

But I'm not being dogmatic-just it seems like an understandable mistake, if it IS a mistake.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Tim 3:16)

Please, will you come to Uncle John?
Gather around poor Uncle John.
Please, will you come to Uncle John (the no-good good-for-nothing),
Oh, when will you come to Uncle John?
Oh, when will you come to, Uncle John?

-Peter Schickele

You just can't beat the classics, like Professor Schickele! One of my favorites! Though I prefer his Ground Rounds.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Tim 3:16)

True, but at least this is an understandable error, and perhaps not even a complete error-as the angels, the multitude of the heavenly host praised God-often, praising God was synonymous with singing-in fact, this is one of my big problems with the idea of 'Worship" music, as worship is never identified with music, but praise almost always is.

Whether they actually praised in song, or in word is up for interpretation, since it says "Saying". You can certainly SAY something in song.

But I'm not being dogmatic-just it seems like an understandable mistake, if it IS a mistake.

Actually, it is not really open to interpretation. There are perfectly acceptable Greek words for "singing" that could have been employed there had Luke meant that the angels actually sang. In fact, the Greek word humneo actually means "to sing the praises of [God]". Luke uses this word in Acts 16:25. The word ado or psallo would work as well. The point is that nothing in that passage points to the angels singing. Of course, never let good theology ruin a good song.

Actually, it is not really open to interpretation. There are perfectly acceptable Greek words for "singing" that could have been employed there had Luke meant that the angels actually sang. In fact, the Greek word humneo actually means "to sing the praises of [God]". Luke uses this word in Acts 16:25. The word ado or psallo would work as well. The point is that nothing in that passage points to the angels singing. Of course, never let good theology ruin a good song.

Hey-I'm a man and can admit my mistakes-I didn't research it out all the way before I wrote, so I humbly retract. Open page, insert foot.

However, the primary meaning of the word used in this passage, "aineo', means "1) to praise, extol, to sing praises in honour to God", so it could still mean the same. Just because there are other words that would work, doesn't mean this one doesn't.
That being said, you are probably right, and I'm good with that. They had a reason to translate it the way they did, and I'm not going to argue with it.

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1Tim 3:16)